Pre-Sonus Fire Studio, FireWire device. Though an external MIDI USB device may also be necessary with that combination. The Fire Studio and many others like it feature 8 decent XLR microphone inputs through their XLR combo jacks. Those combo jacks allow for 1/4 inch TRS (balanced or unbalanced) instrument and line level inputs. And it comes with a snappy software audio & MIDI package that's bundled with it. Most all similar units to the Pre-Sonus have similar capabilities and similar software bundles. So even if you are utilizing a software package you are familiar with and like, you'll get another one included. One can never have too many of these programs. Though most units in similar price ranges are all pretty much the same in quality to each other. It really doesn't matter if you think one sounds better than the other. It matters more what your engineering technique and expertise is along with the professional or amateur capabilities of the musicians involved. One doesn't need to recite marketing hype from advertisements nor mix with their eyes. If you think you need clear clean transparently neutral equipment, you have been brainwashed by marketing hype. That doesn't make one a better engineer if one is a crappy engineer with no technique to begin with. Any good engineer can make great recordings on any piece of crap or any high end piece. Just because you know how to drive your car fast does not qualify you to drive in the Daytona 500. You won't win that race whether you have the best Ford, GM or Chrysler because you don't yet have the established technique in which to be triumphant. That coupled with the probable probability you would get killed on the first lap. So you don't need to spend thousands but you need to spend a minimum of $500 for a nice racy Toyota Corolla. Just don't enter into the Daytona 500 yet. I-95 would be a better bet. But if you should win? At least you're close to Disney World.

I'm Goofy and I have a bonegrrrr
Mx. Remy Ann David